Birth of the Society of Mary

Today marks the 200th anniversary of a pledge made after Mass in front of the statue of Our Lady of Fourviere in the chapel dedicated her on a hill overlooking the city of Lyon, France. Twelve men, 8 ordained just the day before and 4 seminarians made up the even dozen who pledged to begin a Society of Mary, akin to the Society of Jesus, to work toward the initiation of a "Marian Church", a Church of mercy and compassion (as called for by Pope Francis), in which Mary, Mother of the Church, would be the model.  The Society of Mary was to be composed of priests, brothers, sisters and laity under one superior, but Rome rejected this progressive idea, declaring it to be too cumbersome.  Today there are four separate congregations and a growing group of laity who embrace the same mission as declared by the original Twelve:  the Marist Fathers, the Marist Brothers of the Schools, the Maris Sisters, the Marist Missionary Sisters and the Third Order of Mary, now evolving into the Marist Family Movement or simply, Lay Marists.
The Fourviere Conference at Long Beach, New Jersey earlier this week resurrected the original spirit of the pledge and today at the very same chapel of Our Lady of Fourviere, 450 Marist Youth attended an anniversary Mass and renewed the pledge.
There is a huge supply of energy and thrust being generated to propel all Marists into their third century with creative zeal and determination.  May Mary, our Good Mother continue to nurture and guide us into furthering the creation of a Marian Church. All are welcome to join.  Hop on board!
Bro. Rene